Engine Management Light (Yellow) comes on after refuel

[Nosha]

Yes it seems like Fairytooth could do with enlightening us with his/her quick drain method, I have a new filter ready to fit but it looks VERY cramped and I'm sure the rubber mounts holding the air cleaner body will break off as well!

 

[fairytooth]

First of all, thanks for you excellent post describing the problem with the engine management lamp. I own a 2007 Fiat Ducato (2,3 120 BHP) and got the same problem since a while back. Lamp is almost constantly lit. Sometimes it can go off after a long highway trip but usually comes back on a day or two afterwards. I have also suspected it had something to do with water ingress in the fuel tank but my mechanic claims that it is a faulty 'Throttle control' and wants to charge me 500 euros to change it. Since I live in Cyprus my access to qualified Fiat mechanics are somewhat limited I have a hard time getting a second opinion.

I would really appreciate if you would be willing to share the info on how to drain any water. Have flat head screwdriver

/Magnus

Hi Magnus, well 'touch wood' it seems ok for me now so maybe it did the trick. The fuel filter is located high up on the right hand side of the engine compartment (as you are looking into it) You should be able to actually see the fairly large screwhead (grey plastic) looking at you horizontally. As soon as you unscrew it, diesel will drip out below. The screw can come all the way out (don't panic if it does) but make sure you have something to catch the mess underneath the van. Ideally I would have run the fuel almost empty then drain off the rest. Obviously you want a few spare cans of diesel handy too! Screw back up, fill with fuel and it will take a few turns of the engine before it will start. The light should go off almost straight away. Also you could think about putting one of the many fuel cleaning additives to you diesel to clean the injectors. I have read there is 'diesel bug' which is bacteria that can live in diesel which is organic, plus numerous other contaminants like water, wax in cold weather, etc, etc. Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

 

[fairytooth]

****UPDATE****
I gave you slightly duff info on the appearance of the fuel filter drain screw (going from memory!) The fuel filter itself is housed in a black vertical cylinder about 1ft high and 4ins diameter. I haven't had this dismantled myself. On the front of this is a grey screw angled out of the cylinder. That is the drain screw. Sorry if I misled anyone.

This is on an '07 Fiat Ducato 2.3 JTD.

 

[Fugg]

I get that yellow light coming on the dash every time i start the van, it stays on for 4 or 5 minutes of driving then goes off and stays off the rest of the journey. To be on the safe side i got the fuel filter replaced but it made no difference, i dont use the van very often so i expect it could be condensation being detected by the fuel filter sensor.

the same warning light appeared once on my last van which was an identical citroen relay but the older pre-ecu one. i freaked out a bit as I noticed it about 10 minutes after driving off the ferry in Belgium. checked over all the vitals (oil,water etc) and carried on my journey, the light went off after an hour or two of driving. Looking back i think it had something to do with the moisture in the air when at sea, the van was parked on an open deck with howling winds, rain and sea spray.


my old van was a 1999 citroen relay and the new one is a 2001 relay, same as the ducato but rebadged.